Square Enix owns all rights to their characters and places in Spira and it will remain that way through-out this story so refer back to this chapter if you are confused or think otherwise.

As always, enjoy your story and reviews are welcome, appreciated, wanted, and needed.

Author's Note: Our story begins with Clone Auron in Zanarkand

For those of you who have forgotten or don't know what happened in the previous story: almost on his death bed, Bahamut granted Auron the wish to be with his true love and also take care of Jecht. One required him to be alive and the other dead. While real Auron went to Rikku, Clone Auron went to Zanarkand to take care of Tidus.

The flashing lights and noise were disorienting enough without the people shoving past. A city of lights and excitement, something no one had ever seen before but all who lived here were completely unaware of the beauty and strangeness of the place. It was all alone here, no other lands or towns to bother it, it stood alone in its great metropolis. The Machina City of Zanarkand.

A raven-haired man was shoved forward as he tried to get his bearings, this city was completely different from anything he had experienced. He was completely lost and the disorienting noise of it all wasn't helping, besides the people shoving him this way and that. He eventually shoved his way to an empty area on the side-walk to look around. Ahead of him was deeper into the city, where all the people were gathering around what looked like a blitzball stadium. He couldn't see what was going on exactly but he guessed the competing teams had just arrived. He moved away from the crowd before he glanced out into the sea. A large hulking mass was staring at him with many eyes, but he did not feel fear. He had rode the great beast to this wondrous city, it was tame enough for now, especially when his best friend was its host.

He closed his one eye, he remembered so clearly the recent events that had brought him here. He sighed and looked at the beast again and waited to see if it would offer him aid. The beast nodded and he felt a presence touch his mind before he heard a rough, gravelly voice.

"Ya gotta follow the road that goes along the sea-line Red. You'll find 'em in a boat house, a nice lookin' one." Red wasn't his real name, just a nick-name.

"I got it Jecht," he mumbled to himself and began following the road.

"I'm sorry 'bout everything that happened."

"It's not your fault." The house came into view and he stopped before he was on the deck.

"Thanks for doing this Auron, take care of them."

"With my life if necessary Jecht, and you are welcome," Auron replied and took a deep breath. Taking care of Jecht's son and possibly his wife was his reason for coming here. To help the young boy grow into a mature and strong young man and to see if there was a possible way to help the lady into coping with losing Jecht. He thought for a moment, how was he going to tell her what had happened? He knew they had been searching for Jecht, must have given up after such a long time though, he thought. He paused before walking up to the door, he'd just tell her that Jecht was dead and his last wish was for him to help out.

He stopped at the front door and bit his lip slightly before shaking his head and knocking on the door. He waited for a few moments before a woman came to the door. Blue eyes met brown ones, she seemed so fragile to Auron, so broken. Her face was slightly pale and she had the look of someone who had lost all hope and meaning in the world. She pushed brown hair out of her eyes and tucked it behind her ear before she stood up straight.

"Y-yes? May I help you?"

"Um...yes, my name is Auron and your husband, Jecht, sent me to help take care of you and your son." The woman's eyes watered and before a second has passed, her hands had grabbed fistfuls of his coat and she was nearly right up against him, he was startled and took a step back.

"Where is he? You know where is he?" He removed her hands from his jacket and held them comfortingly.

"I'm sorry Madam, this was his last request of me. I'm a very good friend of his and he trusted me with this task before he passed away." His heart nearly broke as tears spilled down her cheeks and she clung to him and sobbed. He awkwardly gave her a hug and patted her back. "Why don't we go inside and sit down?"

He managed to get her to the couch and sit her down and try to calm her. She did calm after a while but sat staring into nothingness. He sighed slightly, he felt terrible for having to tell her Jecht was dead when he wasn't really, but how else was he to explain to her? There was no way for Jecht to come back now, he was as good as dead.

"Auron," she asked in a weak voice. He looked at her.

"Yes?"

"You're going to take care of Tidus?"

"As best as I can, those were Jecht's specific orders." She nodded and sighed.

"I am Ashra, his wife. I'm sorry I didn't say before...I've just been-" she was cut off by a sound in the hallway. Both of them turned and looked. Auron got his first look at Tidus. A small brown-haired, blue watery eyed child. He was thin with barely any meat on him but straight away Auron saw past that and saw the true qualities this child possessed.

"Who is this," Tidus demanded and tried to act like he hadn't been crying.

"This is Auron, he's going to help take care of us."

"We don't need him."

"Your father asked him to." Tidus's eyes went cold and looked at Auron.

"You knew my old man?" Auron nodded slowly.

"I did, you must be Tidus." Tidus nodded.

"Thanks for your help, but we don't need no one. We're doing just fine on our own."

"I don't mean to intrude Tidus, I only came because your father asked me to."

"Whatever your reasons, you can go back to where you came from! Me and my mom don't need you, or anyone else!" Tidus ran back to his room and slammed the door.

"I'm sorry...Tidus isn't fond of Jecht, the two only got along when Tidus was still a baby. But when Tidus began whining as a toddler, their relationship changed." Auron nodded.

"I completely understand, perhaps he will come around. Whatever way this story goes, I still have to honor Jecht's wishes." Ashra nodded.

"Thank you Auron."

"It is my pleasure. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must be off." Ashra nodded and walked him to the door.

"Will we see you again soon?"

"I'm not sure. I don't want to cause any further disturbances, but I'll see if I am able to stop by soon." Auron turned away and walked back into the city. His first order of business would be to secure somewhere to live. He asked around until he found a place to help him with that and within a few hours, he had in close vicinity to Ashra and Tidus. He made himself comfortable and sighed, now what did he do?

He spent the rest of the day organizing the small house to his liking and gathering things he would need. When all that was done, he prepared dinner for himself with the newly bought groceries. He cleaned his dishes and put them away and went to freshen up before settling down for bed. He had to draw the curtains, even at night-time Zanarkand was still so bright. He would have to get used to this. He closed his eye and reflected on his first day before he fell into a dreamless sleep.